Fire extinguisher



Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED SIATESPATENT OFFICE JOHN' RAUS, OFCLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE NATIONALFOBME'IAL COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO FIREEXTINGUISHER Application filed March 24, 1921. Serial No. 455,240.

This invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus and its objectsare the provision of a small and comparatively inexpensive extinguisherfor domestic or automobile use,

which shall be so small as easily to be carried and conveniently handledby a woman; in which the charge can be conveniently stored, shipped, andhandled; wherein the deterioration of the extinguisher and its contentsduring idleness shall be at a minimum; the provision of an extinguisherwhose use shall serve effectively to extinguish" fires, but withoutinjury to paint or varnish; whilefother objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent as the description proceeds. In thedrawing accompanying and formingv a part of thls application I haveshown one embodiment of my said invention, butwithout intent to limitmyself thereto since many changes can be made without departing from myinventive idea. In these drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional view through myimproved extinguisher; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sec-l tional viewcorresponding to the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 represents across-section of the extinguisher.

Describing the parts acters, 1 represents the body ofthe can orcontainer, preferably of about one or two quarts capacity, although thesize is immaterial, having at one end the closed cap 2, at

the opposite end the apertured cap 3, and at one side the handle 4.Located near the cap 3 upon the side opposite the handle is a transversenozzle 5 which should be positioned as near the end of the container aspossible.

Rigidly brazed in the aperture of the cap 3 is the threaded ring 6 inwhich is removably seated the thimble 7 formed at its outer end with anexternal flange 8, at its inner end with an internal flange 9 and in itswall with apertures 10. A. threaded cap 11 tightly screwed on the ring 6holds the thimble in place and prevents leakage. Slidably mounted inthis cap is an axial plunger 13 having at its outer end a head 14 'andatits inner enda piercing point 15, a suitable stop flange 16 beingprovided between the same. At each face of the cap the plunger issurrounded by a soft packing 17 and between the by reference char- Iouter packing and the head is interposed a seating washer 18 and spring19 which serves the double function of holding the plunger in outwardposition and exerti'ng a sealing pressure on the packing rings 17-17.

Carried by the thimble 7 is a metal capsule 20 adapted to contain acid.This capsule is preferably made of some metal like lead which is easilyperforated, which is not attacked by the acid employed, which can behermetically sealed and which can be sent through the mails. Ihave'shown one end as closed by folding and soldering as at 21 andthe'other end by av soldered cap 22 which is formed at its center with athin perforable portion 23 in line with the plunger and around itsperiphery with aflange 24 which interfits with the flange 9 to hold thecapsulein place. In order to prevent any accidental or prematureperforation of the capsule I provide a removable pin 25 traversing thewasher 18 since this facilitates'its insertion, but it may be locatedalmost anywhere. Also to prevent leakage of the solution I employ aremovable stopper for the nozzle, preferably a spring metal cap 26havinga cork pad 27 therein and a chain 28 attached to the pin 25;"

Handles of any kind can be employed, those I prefer being of the foldingkindshown in Figs. 1 and 3, curvedso as to conform to the shape of theextinguisher when folded and securecl'in place by the metal straps 30. I

have also shown one end of the extinguisher I as provided with a rigidhandle 31.

To secure the extinguisher in position for v instant use I provlde abracket, for example that shown in Fig. 1 comprising a base plate 32,end fingers 33, and side fingers 34. {The endfingers are made in pairs,spaced so as to receive between them the handle 31 at one end and thecap 11 at the other, theirtips being turned inwardly as at 35 so astocooperate with the spring fingers 34 in holding the device yieldinglyin place. The two-ends of the bracket are identical so that it may beinstalled either end up and the extinguisher applied to it either endup, indiscriminately. Each end is preferably provided with a spring hook36 to which the chain 28 is attached when not in use, thus ensuring thatv 15 Capsule in place.

. the extinguisl'ler Will be. automatically prev pared for actionobythe'mere act of remoV-' ing it from the bracket. v .The container isfirst filled with afsolution' ofsodium bicarbonate or other inexpensivesaltfcontaining a large amount'of displaceable gas, and the ca'psule isfilled w ithsulphuric' acid, hydrochloric acid, or other inexpensivesubstance of this nature. -When 10 this capsule is perforated the resultis a slow steady escape of acidwhich produces a constant evolution ofgasandmaintains a steady stream fromthe nozzle which canbe ac curatelycontrolled. A-spaCerB? lreepsthe order to produce a frothy liquid analuminum salt can be employedin addition toithe gas-producing salt, inwhich event I prefer to employ hydrochloric acid rather i thansulphuricacid because of .the decreased tendency towards the productionof insoluble I compounds'which would obstruct the nozzle and clogtheapparatus; g V 7 d 'f The employment ofa metal capsule as de- 5 sjcribed enablestheacid charge to be trans l V ported byima il'and to bestored and applied 1 without difficulty; the comparatively slow outflowof acid obtained in this wayll'eadsto a more uniform streampressurewhich can f r 30 pewter controlled and is not solikely' to Y'the device here shown is much cheaper to turn-into spray before thefire is reached;

. and charge than "most extinguishers, but it will be understood thatmany changes I 1.35 can be made withoutdeparting from my in vention asdefined in the annexed claims. Having thus described my invention whatTIclaimis: f f

a 1. As an article of manufacture an elongat- V a ed acidcapsuleofincorrodible ductileirnetal having at one endan external securingflange and an integral perforable regionadjacent thereto. f.. I f 3 Y 2.acid container for fire extinguishers 7 f y '45 comprising a cylindricalbody of soft non- 50 folded.

' {corrodible metal having atone end an external flange and a leak-proofperforable .web

.- l0 c ate d inthe planet of said flange5 the ,oppo-f site end saidbody being-flattenedand f Anacidlcontainer,foriire extinguishers"comprising ahono'w cylindrical body having one end'closed and providedwith laterally projecting supporting means, and the other,

end reduced in diameter and folded to form v hermetically sealed capsulesaid closed end j having a perforable portion. V. I v 7In-testimonywhereof; I hereunto affix my signature.- 7 o 7 JOHN RAUS.

